Yun Lianqing was nearly annoyed to death. Just when he had finally found some free time to go out, he was being called back into the palace.

Though extremely reluctant to go, since it was Yun Guangyao who had sent for him, he had no way to refuse. So, with a gloomy face, he left the Imperial Preceptor’s mansion.

Before long, Yun Lianqing arrived at the palace and headed straight for Yun Guangyao’s imperial study.

Yun Guangyao was currently in his study reviewing memorials. Upon hearing that Yun Lianqing had arrived, he let out a light snort, “Let him come in.”

“Greetings, Imperial Father,” Yun Lianqing bowed to Yun Guangyao after entering.

Yun Guangyao lifted his eyelids, glanced at Yun Lianqing, and spoke with an angry tone, “Do you still consider me, your father, in your eyes?”

“…” Yun Lianqing didn’t know what he had done to anger Yun Guangyao again. He was momentarily stunned and remained silent.

“As the Crown Prince of a nation, you’ve been nowhere to be seen for several days. You don’t have the slightest appearance of someone ready to ascend the throne. Look at Rong Jiu of Eastern Frontier Kingdom—since he ascended the throne, the former Emperor of Eastern Frontier has been able to enjoy his leisure. Look at yourself—how can I entrust the kingdom to you with peace of mind?”

After listening to Yun Guangyao’s string of criticisms, Yun Lianqing pouted, muttering, “That Rong Jiu doesn’t even have a consort yet, who knows if he’ll end up without descendants…”

…

…

“What did you say?” Yun Guangyao only heard vaguely and didn’t catch everything.

“Nothing, Imperial Father’s instruction is correct. This son will diligently learn the art of governing from now on, without causing Imperial Father any worry,” Yun Lianqing clasped his hands and bowed.

Yun Guangyao knew that Yun Lianqing was again trying to brush him off, and continued to look at him with displeasure. “You’re not young anymore. Today, several ministers have again submitted memorials, suggesting that you should quickly take a few consorts to fill the Crown Prince’s mansion, establishing a good foundation for the future.”

“…” Yun Lianqing lowered his eyes, not knowing what to say.

At this moment, an announcement came from outside, “The Empress has arrived…”

The Qiyue Empress of South Courtyard Kingdom was Yun Lianqing’s birth mother.

After entering, the Qiyue Empress first paid her respects to Yun Guangyao, smiling, “This concubine personally stewed a pot of soup today, especially to bring to the Emperor. The Emperor must be tired from reviewing memorials.”

“Oh, Lianqing is here too?” The Qiyue Empress looked at Yun Lianqing with surprise.

Yun Lianqing suppressed his smile, bowing to the Qiyue Empress, “This son pays respects to Imperial Mother.”

“Mmm, good boy,” the Qiyue Empress curled her lips in a smile.

Yun Lianqing straightened, still holding back his smile. On his way here, fearing that Yun Guangyao would lecture him at length again, he had specially sent someone to invite his mother, and didn’t expect her to arrive so quickly.

Yun Guangyao, long accustomed to the little tricks between mother and son, coughed lightly before looking at the Qiyue Empress, “I summoned Lianqing today to discuss the matter of establishing a Crown Princess.”

“So that’s what it’s about,” the Qiyue Empress nodded understandingly, then added, “Nowadays, the younger generation all have their ideas. Some things can’t be rushed.”

“Though that may be true, not everyone can meet someone who is a perfect match,” Yun Guangyao, although admiring the affection between Chu Li and Mu Yunjin, did not approve if Yun Lianqing were to follow their example.

As a future ruler, how could he take only one wife for life?

The Qiyue Empress, as a woman, hearing Yun Guangyao’s words, couldn’t help feeling a sense of sadness in her heart.

“If the Emperor wants to select a Crown Princess for Lianqing, are there suitable candidates?” the Qiyue Empress asked.

“The daughters of Prime Minister Gu and Secretary Lin are both excellent,” Yun Guangyao said.

The Qiyue Empress nodded slightly upon hearing this, turning her gaze toward Yun Lianqing to see his reaction.

Yun Lianqing maintained an expressionless face, pressing his thin lips together, saying nothing.

The Qiyue Empress, who understood her son best, knew that this expression meant he was unhappy. But she couldn’t go against Yun Guangyao’s wishes, so she could only agree, “Yes, they’re both good.”

Then, looking at Yun Lianqing again, “Lianqing, you’ve met both these young ladies. What do you think?”

“Not much,” Yun Lianqing said. They were far inferior to his divine doctor, merely people trying to climb the social ladder.

“Absurd!” Yun Guangyao was angered, throwing aside the memorial he had just picked up. “Then what do you want? Do you intend to leave the imperial harem empty forever?”

Seeing this, the Qiyue Empress immediately knelt, pulling at Yun Lianqing’s robe, signaling him to kneel as well. “Your Majesty, please forgive us. Lianqing has just finished dealing with the Lone Mountain City epidemic and hasn’t yet recovered his senses. As for the selection of the Crown Princess, let it be decided by Your Majesty.”

“Imperial Mother…” Yun Lianqing frowned. How was it that calling his mother here had only made things worse?

Yun Guangyao, seeing the mother and son’s coordinated act, felt truly helpless. He took a sip of water, changing his tone, “A few days ago, I suddenly recalled something.”

“Qiyue, do you remember when Lianqing was three years old and suffered a serious illness?” Yun Guangyao looked at the Qiyue Empress.

The Qiyue Empress nodded, waiting for him to continue.

“That year, the one who cured Lianqing’s illness was not Imperial Physician Wang from the Imperial Medical Academy, but someone else,” Yun Guangyao said.

“What? But Imperial Physician Wang said he cured Lianqing, didn’t he? Wouldn’t that mean he committed the crime of deceiving the Emperor? That year, if he hadn’t cured Lianqing, he would never have been able to take the position of head of the Imperial Medical Academy,” the Qiyue Empress’s words carried excitement and anger.

Yun Guangyao raised his hand to indicate she should stay calm. “This matter was done under my instructions. The reason I said so was to prevent the master behind the scenes from attracting outside attention.”

“Master behind the scenes?” the Qiyue Empress was surprised.

“Yes, a peerless divine doctor,” Yun Guangyao said.

The Qiyue Empress pressed her red lips together, not knowing what to say.

“That year, after the divine doctor cured Lianqing, I rewarded him with many treasures, but he didn’t take any of them. There was only one thing he accepted.”

“I said it jokingly at the time, saying if not, then in the future, Lianqing could marry his daughter, thus creating a union. Unexpectedly, the divine doctor agreed.”

“After the divine doctor left, I gradually forgot about this matter, until a few days ago when I suddenly remembered it.”

“It’s been nearly seventeen years apart; I suppose the divine doctor has forgotten as well.”

Yun Lianqing, listening to Yun Guangyao’s words, felt his head buzzing intensely, his heartbeat inexplicably accelerating, becoming excited.

“Imperial Father, the divine doctor you mentioned, is his surname Bai?” Yun Lianqing carefully asked this question, looking at Yun Guangyao with a face full of expectation.

Yun Guangyao was slightly stunned, looking at Yun Lianqing, “That’s right, how did you know?”

“Imperial Father!!!” Yun Lianqing suddenly shouted at Yun Guangyao, quickly stepping forward to embrace him tightly, unwilling to let go.

The Qiyue Empress nearby was startled, thinking Yun Lianqing had been stimulated. She had just gotten up, ready to pull him away, when she heard Yun Lianqing excitedly say, “Imperial Father, since you have arranged this marriage with my benefactor, it must be fulfilled, otherwise it would tarnish our imperial family’s honor.”

“…” Yun Guangyao felt somewhat dizzy.

“Imperial Father, there’s no time to waste. Let me prepare the betrothal gifts right now.”

“Imperial Father, three days from now is an auspicious day. Why don’t we set the wedding date for three days later?”

“Imperial Father, after I’m married, I’ll study diligently the way of governing. You can just wait to hold your grandchildren.”

“Imperial Father…”

…

At Imperial Preceptor An’s mansion.

“Brother Bai, why did you choose this time to come to my residence?” Imperial Preceptor An, leaning against his bed, looked at Bai Cha sitting in a chair nearby.

Hearing this, Bai Cha raised his eyebrows, “I came to South Courtyard Kingdom on some business and took the opportunity to visit you.”

“Took the opportunity?” Imperial Preceptor An also raised an eyebrow. “What business could you have in South Courtyard Kingdom?”

“Qinghuan’s lifelong matter,” Bai Cha said.

Hearing this, Imperial Preceptor An’s first reaction was to recall Yun Lianqing’s affection for Bai Qinghuan. Could it be that Bai Cha knew about it?

Thinking of Bai Cha’s old-fashioned temperament, Imperial Preceptor An couldn’t help but stroke his chin, speaking up for Yun Lianqing, “Actually, that young man Lianqing, although he doesn’t look like a serious person, has a good heart. He’s a sensible child.”

“Oh? You know about this?” Bai Cha was surprised that Imperial Preceptor An knew about Yun Lianqing and Bai Qinghuan’s engagement. After thinking for a moment, he figured it must have been told by Yun Guangyao.

“Of course. Lianqing has been quite close to me recently, so I know about his matter with Qinghuan. Let me tell you, this time the young man is serious. Last time, after Qinghuan treated his leg injury in Zhangzhou City, he searched for Qinghuan for a long time. When he unexpectedly encountered Qinghuan in Lone Mountain City, the young man was stunned…”

Listening to Imperial Preceptor An’s words, Bai Cha furrowed his brows, interrupting, “Wait a moment…”

“What is it?” Imperial Preceptor An was confused.

“You’re saying that this Crown Prince and Qinghuan already knew each other in Zhangzhou City?” Bai Cha was astonished, having not expected this turn of events.

Imperial Preceptor An also sensed that something was amiss. “What do you mean? Isn’t that what you’re talking about?”

“I am indeed talking about Crown Prince and Qinghuan, but this matter dates back seventeen years. At that time, Qinghuan had just been born, and I happened to be traveling here. Hearing that the little Crown Prince was seriously ill, I secretly treated him. Afterward, I arranged a marriage agreement with Yun Guangyao—between Qinghuan and this Crown Prince.”

“Now that Qinghuan is eighteen, it’s time for her to marry, so I came to South Courtyard Kingdom, intending to speak with Yun Guangyao about the marriage.”

Imperial Preceptor An was listening in a daze, almost thinking he was watching a television drama. This coincidence was so perfect, it was like a joke.

“Old An, what did you mean just now?” Bai Cha looked at Imperial Preceptor An, asking.

“Some time ago, in Zhangzhou City…” Imperial Preceptor An explained in detail Yun Lianqing’s affection for Bai Qinghuan.

After hearing the complete story, Bai Cha couldn’t help but laugh heartily, “To think such a thing could happen!”

Imperial Preceptor An pursed his lips, nodding.

“Hahaha, back then, when Yun Guangyao insisted on giving me something to express his gratitude, I casually said, ‘Why not have your son marry my daughter in the future?’ I never expected these two children would have such a destiny,” Bai Cha marveled inwardly at the wonder of fate.

Imperial Preceptor An was also at a loss for words. Such an incredible coincidence—everything seemed to have come together just perfectly.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door outside, followed by a guard’s voice, “Sir, Crown Prince has arrived at the mansion with many betrothal gifts.”